Study Finds Pandemic Caused Sharp Decline in German Youth Fitness
Preliminary data from the MoMo 2.0 study reveals significant drops in endurance and motor skills among children, with long-term health impacts still under review.
- The MoMo 2.0 study, involving 4,500 children and adolescents, is the largest investigation into youth fitness in Germany since the pandemic began.
- Preliminary findings show endurance performance declined by 7.7% for boys and 9.6% for girls, based on standardized fitness tests.
- Researchers attribute these declines to reduced physical activity opportunities during pandemic-related restrictions, including school closures and limited sports access.
- Despite a recovery in sports club participation, only 20% of youth meet WHO-recommended activity levels, indicating ongoing fitness gaps.
- The study's raw data will be discussed at the upcoming 'Kinder bewegen' congress, with a full scientific analysis expected in the coming weeks.
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